Apparatus, non-transient computer readable media, and methods for automatically quantifying space within a logistics container using a scanning sensor node disposed within the container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016239795-A1
Application number	US-201614992261-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 11, 2016
Priority date	Feb 18, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Improved methods, non-transient computer readable media, and apparatus are described for automatically quantifying space within a container using a scanning sensor node disposed within the container and exposed to scan the space from above the space. For example, a general method involves detecting an initiating condition from within the container using an activation sensor on the scanning sensor node. The initiating condition reflects at least an anticipated change within the container (such as an opening of the container, movement, ceased movement, loading/unloading operation, or closing of the container). In response to the activation sensor driven detection of the initiating condition, the scanning sensor node captures a snapshot scan of the space within the container from above the space and within the container and stores the snapshot scan within a memory of the scanning sensor node.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . An improved method for automatically quantifying space within a container using a scanning sensor node disposed within the container and exposed to scan the space within the container from above the space, the method comprising:
detecting an initiating condition from within the container using an activation sensor on the scanning sensor node, the initiating condition reflecting at least an anticipated change within the container; in response to detecting the initiating condition using the activation sensor, capturing a snapshot scan of the space within the container from above the space and within the container using the scanning sensor node; and storing the snapshot scan within a memory of the scanning sensor node.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein step of capturing the snapshot scan further comprises capturing the snapshot scan using a depth sensor on the scanning sensor node, wherein the snapshot scan of the space indicates an approximate available volume left to be filled within a storage portion of the container.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the anticipated change within the container further comprises at least one from the group consisting of an opening of the container, a movement of contents maintained within the container, ceased movement within the container, a loading operation related to the container, an unloading operation related to the container, and a closing of the container.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting the initiating condition from within the container using the activation sensor further comprises detecting movement within the container using a motion sensor as the activation sensor.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting the initiating condition from within the container using the activation sensor further comprises detecting an environmental change related to the container as the initiating condition using at least one environmental sensor as the activation sensor.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein detecting the environmental change further comprises detecting a threshold level of at least one from the group comprising light within the container, temperature within the container, humidity within the container, concussive force related to the container, atmospheric chemical composition change within the container, auditory level change related to the container, barometric pressure within the container, and smoke particle concentration within the container.

7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising periodically capturing, using the scanning sensor node, one or more additional snapshot scans of the space within the container from above the space and within the container.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of periodically capturing further comprises periodically capturing, using the scanning sensor node, the one or more additional snapshot scans until the scanning sensor node detects a terminating condition from within the container using the activation sensor.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the terminating condition comprises a lack of movement detected within the container over a defined monitoring period.

10 . The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:
detecting a second initiating condition from within the container using the activation sensor on the scanning sensor node, the second initiating condition reflecting at least a further anticipated change within the container after detecting the terminating condition; and
periodically capturing, using the scanning sensor node, further additional snapshot scans of the space within the container until the scanning sensor node detects a second terminating condition from within the container using the activation sensor.

11 . The method of claim 1 further comprising generating, by the scanning sensor node, a notification when the snapshot scan reflects a desired load status of the container.

12 . The method of claim 8 further comprising generating, by the scanning sensor node, a notification when a current of the one or more additional snapshot scans reflects a desired load status of the container.

13 . The method of claim 10 further comprising generating, by the scanning sensor node, a notification when a current of the further additional snapshot scans reflects a desired load status of the container.

14 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which when executed on a processor of a scanning sensor node performs an improved method for automatically quantifying space within a container using the scanning sensor node disposed within the container and exposed to scan the space within the container from above the space, the method comprising:
detecting an initiating condition from within the container using an activation sensor on the scanning sensor node, the initiating condition reflecting at least an anticipated change within the container; in response to detecting the initiating condition using the activation sensor, capturing a snapshot scan of the space within the container from above the space and within the container using the scanning sensor node; and storing the snapshot scan within a memory of the scanning sensor node.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein step of capturing the snapshot scan further comprises capturing the snapshot scan using a depth sensor on the scanning sensor node, wherein the snapshot scan of the space indicates an approximate available volume left to be filled within a storage portion of the container.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the anticipated change within the container further comprises at least one from the group consisting of an opening of the container, a movement of contents maintained within the container, ceased movement within the container, a loading operation related to the container, an unloading operation related to the container, and a closing of the container.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the step of detecting the initiating condition from within the container using the activation sensor further comprises detecting movement within the container using a motion sensor as the activation sensor.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the step of detecting the initiating condition from within the container using the activation sensor further comprises detecting an environmental change within the container as the initiating condition using at least one environmental sensor as the activation sensor.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein detecting the environmental change further comprises detecting a threshold level of at least one from the group comprising light within the container, temperature within the container, humidity within the container, concussive force related to the container, atmospheric chemical composition change within the container, auditory level change related to the container, barometric pressure within the container, and smoke particle concentration within the container.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising the step of periodically capturing, using the scanning sensor node, one or more additional snapshot scans of the space within the container from above the space and within the container.

21 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the step of pe

Assignees

• Fedex Corp Services Inc

Inventors

• Burch V Reuben F
• Cawein William

Classifications

• G01F17/00

  Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies (measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B) · CPC title

• G06K2007/10504

  Data fields affixed to objects or articles · CPC title

• G06F16/254

  Extract, transform and load [ETL] procedures, e.g. ETL data flows in data warehouses · CPC title

• G01B21/18

  for measuring depth · CPC title

• G06K19/0723

  the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs · CPC title